CLARKE’S MEN FACE STEP UP IN QUALITY FOR QATAR QUEST

THE draw for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers will be made today, with Scotland aiming to build on the momentum they have gained recently. After securing their place at Euro 2020, Steve Clarke (below) and his team will now be looking to make it two in a row and qualify for back-toback major finals. However, qualification for the Qatar World Cup is a step up. It will be much more difficult than reaching the Euros. For starters, Scotland don’t have the insurance policy of a play-off to fall back on. That went with the failure to finish top of their Nations League group last month. What they must now do is qualify on merit through the group — and they will need to finish in the top two of their section to do so. Winning it would secure automatic qualification, while second place would see them enter another play-off. To put it into context, Scotland had to prove themselves as one of the top 24 teams in Europe to reach next summer’s Euros. To reach the World Cup, they must prove themselves among the 13 best teams on the continent. Pot One is filled with the usual heavyweights, including world champions France. Belgium, Spain and Germany would also be best avoided. Denmark would be more favourable. Pot Two could see us land Switzerland or Poland. Again, those are tough opponents. Slovakia or Romania would be more desirable. You can take your pick from anything across Pots Four, Five and Six. As for what could be the best and worst draws for the Scots, who are in Pot Three, they would probably be: BEST: Denmark, Romania, SCOTLAND, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino. WORST: Belgium, Switzerland, SCOTLAND, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, Malta.